Miami Gardens, Fla. -- The New Orleans Saints could be forgiven if their minds were elsewhere Thursday night. That's generally the case with the fourth and final preseason game.

Perhaps they were already thinking a week ahead, when they host the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 8.

Whatever it was, it's safe to say coach Sean Payton wasn't thrilled with the outcome in an 24-21 loss to the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium.

It wasn't the score that had him frustrated.

The Saints had 11 penalties and four turnovers, including a fumble by Mark Ingram in the first quarter that led to a Dolphins field goal.

"We did some good things tonight. Overall, though, the penalties and the turnovers really hurt us," Payton said. "Penalties in the first half, we had 10. And the three fumbles, those are big plays where we've just got to be better with the football. I thought a lot of guys gave some good effort. This will be an interesting tape to watch."

Ingram, who had nine carries for 49 yards, left the ball exposed as he tried to leap over a defender for extra yardage, allowing Miami to recover at the Saints' 14-yard line.

"I just jumped, and it kind of got away from my body," Ingram said. "When I landed, I still had it, and I was trying to tuck it, and I think it hit (the defender's) helmet and kind of popped out. I just need to be more conscious about ball security."

He wasn't the only one. Rookie running back Khiry Robinson lost the ball twice.

One slipped out of his grasp while he was trying to stretch across the goal line, but offensive lineman Tim Lelito scooped it up for a touchdown. The other was recovered by Miami at midfield.

"When you watch him and the way he runs, it wasn't a matter of it that was going to happen," Payton said. "It was going to happen at some point. I thought he played hard, but we need to work on the ball security."

And the rookie jitters extended to quarterback Ryan Griffin, who played almost the entire game in relief of Drew Brees and Luke McCown. Griffin fumbled a snap from Lelito at New Orleans' 8-yard line.

Of course, with most of the first team watching from the sideline, that's bound to happen. The only starters or potential starters to see extensive playing time were cornerback Patrick Robinson, wide receiver Marques Colston, running back Mark Ingram and defensive lineman Akiem Hicks.

The Dolphins took the final lead with three minutes left in the fourth quarter after Pat Devlin found Marvin McNutt for a 56-yard touchdown pass. The Saints drove all the way to Miami's 6-yard line on the next series, but Griffin was intercepted on third-and-6 while looking for Robinson.

"It was my fault," Griffin said. "I was looking for a back-shoulder pass and we weren't really on the same page."

Robinson, who had an 18-yard run on that touchdown drive, led the running backs with 22 carries for 115 yards, and also caught six passes for 50 yards. He had several long runs, including one of 18 yards.

And the fumbles aside, his performance might have helped earn him a roster spot, particularly since fellow running back Travaris Cadet did not make the trip.

"Every game I try to do better, try to learn from my mistakes," Robinson said. "How much effort I put in, that's going to determine if I make the 53 man roster. I feel like it might have helped a little bit, but you never know."

Defensively, Tyrunn Walker and Jay Richardson continued to make their cases for roster spots, combining for three sacks.

If there was a bright spot to take from the Saints' mistakes, it would be the defense, which allowed only one touchdown while defending a short field three times.

Griffin's botched snap led to a goal line stand by the Saints' defense, which stuffed the run from the 1-yard line, and forced a turnover on downs after two failed passes. After Ingram's fumble, the Saints pushed the Dolphins back a yard, forcing them to settle for a 33-yard field goal.

And in the third quarter, Jericho Nelson intercepted a tipped pass off the hands of Corey White. Korey Lindsey also had an interception in the second quarter with the Dolphins facing first-and-goal at the 8-yard line.

Garrett Hartley missed a 55-yard field goal in the third quarter.

"I think there were a lot of good things," said safety Jim Leonhard. "We played well. ... We gave up a big play at the end of the game and it obviously hurt us, but I think there are a lot of positives. Effort was great."